Author: staff
“I am a great admirer of America,” Merz added, drawing laughter from the crowd, “but right now my admiration is not increasing.” The comments emphasize the growing rift between Berlin and Washington after weeks of public clashes between Merz and President Donald Trump. The German leader — who previously headed the Atlantik-Brücke, an influential network that promotes U.S.-German ties — told schoolchildren on April 28 that the American president had been “humiliated” by Iran and lacked a coherent strategy for the war that broke out in late February following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. Three days later, on May…
Thirty-six countries, mainly from Europe, have signed up to a special tribunal to prosecute Russian President Vladimir Putin for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, which will be headquartered in the Dutch city of The Hague. The joint pledge was formalised on Friday during the annual meeting of foreign affairs ministers of the Council of Europe, a human rights organisation that has taken the lead in addressing the jurisdictional gap left by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Ministers endorsed a resolution laying down the structure and functions of the management committee that will oversee the tribunal. Among its tasks, the…
Our Instagram feeds have changed a lot since the platform launched in 2010. Posts used to offer a glimpse into everyday life (admittedly with a heavy filter on top); nowadays, folks tend to only share their biggest wins and, of course, their holidays. It’s not just a case of people going to the same places, either – they’re also taking exactly the same photos. That’s why you’ll find queues near the blue domes of Oia, Santorini, or by the Itsukushima Shrine Torii in Japan, as people wait to secure the “perfect” shot. Barcelona is even creating a dedicated selfie zone…
Published on 15/05/2026 – 15:46 GMT+2 This colossal, immersive entertainment arena aims to transform Yas Island into one of the world’s most technologically ambitious cultural destinations. The project is backed by a USD 1.7 billion investment from the country’s Department of Culture and Tourism. Sphere Abu Dhabi is expected to open by the end of 2029 and the venue will sit between Yas Mall and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, placing it at the heart of the emirate’s fast-growing entertainment district. With capacity for up to 20,000 spectators, the giant spherical venue is promising to offer more than a traditional arena experience.…
“By choosing ArgonOS, the BfV is sending a clear signal for European digital sovereignty,” Marc Henrichmann, chair of the parliamentary oversight committee for the German intelligence services, told POLITICO. “Whether ArgonOS can keep up in the long run will have to be demonstrated by its operational use. Performance must remain the primary criterion, not just the origin.” The decision comes amid a broader German debate over Palantir’s role in the country’s security infrastructure. Some German police forces already use the company’s software, and the German interior ministry is considering using it for federal forces. Critics have warned of risks to…
Spanish football club FC Barcelona have declined to provide comment on accusations made by the Israeli defence minister towards its star player Lamine Yamal of “inciting hatred” against the country after he waved a Palestinian flag at a victory parade. Katz said the player’s gesture, made during Barcelona’s recent La Liga title celebrations, amounted to “inciting hatred towards Israel and the Jewish people”, adding that anyone who supports actions like Yamal’s should “ask themselves: is this humanitarian? Is this moral?” Israel’s defence minister also said that Yamal chose to do it “while Israeli soldiers were fighting the terrorist organisation Hamas,…
By Euronews Published on 15/05/2026 – 15:31 GMT+2 Five Italian divers died in the Maldives after disappearing during a scuba expedition near Vaavu Atoll, as authorities continued a difficult underwater recovery operation on Friday. Maldivian officials said the group, which included an instructor, was believed to have been exploring a deep underwater cave when the accident happened on Thursday. One body was recovered from around 60 metres below the surface, while the remaining four divers were believed to still be inside the same cave. “The cave is so deep that divers even with the best equipment do not try to approach,”…
A prestigious global airline ranking has been released, and no European airlines have achieved the highest rating. Each year since 1999, Skytrax, an international air transport rating organisation based in London, has awarded five-star ratings to just a handful of operators. This year, the top ten is made up of exclusively Asian and Middle Eastern airlines with no European carriers in sight. How does an airline achieve a five-star rating? Recognised as a top evaluation system grading airlines on quality, Skytrax’s five-star Airline Rating puts operators through rigorous tests to see if they’re entitled to the top ranking. The body…
This week Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk demonstrated he knows how to charm and break the ice with celebrities. When meeting the famous Hollywood actor George Clooney, a staunch critic of Donald Trump, he self-deprecatingly introduced himself by saying: “My name is Donald. It’s not my fault. It wasn’t my choice.” Clearly amused the movie star laughed and replied, “It’s okay”. In turn, his wife – human rights lawyer and activist Amal Clooney – greeted Tusk: “Good morning, Prime Minister, nice to meet you,” before adding in Polish: “Good day.” Earlier, the Prime Minister published a joint photo with the…
Trump last week said he “might” move U.S. troops to Poland. “I have a great relationship with the president,” he said, “so that’s possible.” However, Trump has also questioned the U.S. commitment to NATO’s Article 5 common defense pact and threatened to annex Greenland, a territory of alliance member Denmark. Oana Lungescu, a former NATO spokesperson and senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, said that while it’s still uncertain whether the Polish deployment decision is linked to the German troop pullout, what she called “haphazard and uncoordinated decisions by the Trump administration” risk alienating European allies and encouraging…